BSc (Hons) Biology and Computer Science

Keele takes a broad approach to biology, examining the diversity of life and its evolution from the geological past. You’ll consider a range of engaging biological topics which may include the complexity of biological processes and mechanisms at molecular, cellular, organismal, and ecosystem levels, philosophical and ethical issues. You’ll develop your practical skillset through a range of activities which may include sampling, recording, and analyzing data in the field and in our well-equipped labs. Through your study of computer science, you’ll learn to use technology to create new opportunities and to solve a wide range of problems, benefiting every aspect of society from the home to business, government, and beyond. You’ll consider how biology and computer science have influenced each other, as is evident from the success of evolutionary algorithms, which you may explore through topics that could include Natural Computation and Computational and Artificial Intelligence. Our teaching is informed by our research, and we also reflect what’s happening now in the industry. You’ll have access to our own computing labs, based on Microsoft Windows and Linux, plus a wide range of software.

Year 1

COMPULSORY MODULES

• Physiology and Anatomy
• Fundamentals of Biology
• Core Practical Skills
• Programming I – Programming Fundamentals
• Fundamentals of Computing
• Communication, Confidence, and Competence

OPTIONAL MODULES

• Cybercrime
• Systems and Architecture
• Computer Animation and Multimedia
• Natural Computation
• Introduction to Interaction Design

Year 2

COMPULSORY MODULES

• Microbes, Viruses, and Parasites
• Environmental Biology
• Practical Skills in Bioscience
• Research and Analytical Skills
• Software Engineering

OPTIONAL MODULES

• Human Impact on the Environment, scientific perspectives
• Current Topics in Biology
• Biodiversity Crisis
• Health and the Environment
• Web Technologies
• Programming II – Data Structures and Algorithms
• Mobile Application Development
• Computational and Artificial Intelligence I
• Database Systems
• Advanced Programming Practices
• Individual Study Topic in Computer Science
• Forensic Anthropology and Taphonomy

Year 3

COMPULSORY MODULES

• Third Year Double Project – ISP

OPTIONAL MODULES

• Ecotoxicology and Risk Assessment
• Applied Insect Ecology
• Applied Life Sciences Placement – ISP
• Conservation Biology
• Double Applied Life Sciences Placement – ISP
• Life Sciences Double Experimental Project (with research skills assessment)
• Life Sciences Single Experimental Project (with research skills assessment) – ISP
• Life Sciences Dissertation
• Human Evolution
• Plant Science and Sustainability
• Software Engineering Project Management
• Games Computing
• Advanced Information Systems
• Advanced Databases and Applications
• Communications and Networks
• Advanced Web Technologies
• Computational and Artificial Intelligence II

Employability

Biology at Keele offers both breadth and depth of knowledge, preparing you for a range of careers. You might work as a research scientist, as an environmental consultant, conservationist, in quality control areas of the food industry, in the pharmaceutical industry, or as a scientific writer. Graduates of Computer Science build the essential skills which are in demand from employers looking for systems analysts, software engineers, and consultants. You’ll graduate with a wide range of computing skills plus a highly developed approach to problem-solving.

Jobs that a graduate of this course could go on to do:

• Soil Scientist
• Science Teacher
• HE Lecturer
• Clinical Molecular Geneticist
• IT Consultant
• Database Administrator
• Systems Analyst
• Multimedia Programmer
• Games Developer
• IT Technical Support Officer
• Network Engineer
• Information Systems Manager